Ready was introduced as the Gwinnett Braves manager on Thursday at Coolray Field.

After spending eight years managing on the minor-league level, Ready spent the past 2-plus years as a hitting coach with the Padres and then Rangers. After Texas let Ready and several other coaches go, Braves assistant general manager Bruce Manno called to see if he was interested in joining the organization.

"I think that I've always had the desire to manage," he said. "I think I have more to offer than just as the hitting coach, or opportunities to be in the batting cage all day long."

The name Ready may be familiar to longtime Braves fans.

He was a career. 259 hitter in 777 games on the Major League level with the Brewers (1983-86), Padres (1986-89), Phillies (1989-91, 94-95), Athletics (1992) and Expos (1993).

He began his managing career in 2002 with Oneonta (Single A) in the Detroit system. He worked his way up to Triple A with Portland in the San Diego system. He has a 489-466 record and won the Texas League with San Antonio (Double A) in 2007.

He spent the 2012 season as a minor-league hitting coordinator with the Rangers. That followed more than two years as the Padres' hitting coach.